New York man starts first day at Taco Bell, then gets fired after an hour over a chalupa: ‘Heyyyy so this is so illegal’
The first day at work can be nerve-racking and exciting at the same time. There are many things that could go wrong, but also many that could go right.
Unfortunately for TikTok user @themogulmason, the latter was true. On March 30, 2026, Mason Chang, known as @themogulmason on TikTok and living in New York, uploaded a video about how he got fired from his job at Taco Bell on his first day, after working roughly one hour and eighteen minutes.
TikTok user @themogulmason recounts experience of getting fired over chalupas
As mentioned earlier, TikTok user @themogulmason shared on March 30, 2026, his experience of working at Taco Bell, or rather, not working there. He explained that he had an interview at Taco Bell and was pretty much offered the job effortlessly. They gave him his “baddie chain,” and in return, Mason expressed his gratitude for being hired. When asked when he could start, Mason said he could begin the next day.
In the video, Mason then mentions he doesn’t drive, so his friend had to take him to work. He woke up at 8 am and arrived at Taco Bell at 9:20 am, ten minutes before his shift started. Mason was greeted and handed a Taco Bell hat. Soon after, his manager approached him and asked him to make a chalupa. Mason was confused because it was his first day and he had no experience making chalupas, so he asked his manager, “Who me?” The manager replied, “Who the fuc* else?” At this point, Mason clarifies that he doesn’t know how to make a chalupa, doesn’t order it from the menu, and even struggles to spell it. He states that when he was asked to make chalupas, he made what he thought they should look like, but obviously, it was wrong. The manager then called him out on it. About ten minutes later, the manager told Mason to go home, addressing him as “new guy.” Mason explains that after being fired on his first day, he had to call his friend, who had dropped him off earlier, to pick him up, and she was surprised that he had been fired after just over an hour of work. Concluding his video, Mason says he didn’t get paid for the 1 hour and 18 minutes he worked before getting fired, and notes that there were many documents and formalities he needed to handle on his first day, which took up a lot of time.
TikTok users are rallying behind @hemogulmason
Many people have left comments supporting @hemogulmason on his TikTok video where he talks about getting fired from Taco Bell. User @j0lenee1 said, “Heyyyy so this is so illegal.” User @tcgperalta added, “They have to train you, you can sue.”
Numerous individuals shared their own experiences working at Taco Bell. User @znodouble.ee shared, “i too worked at taco bell for like 3 weeks and it was HELL, everyone so mean.” User @bellabee2000 commented, “Yep Taco Bell is shit** company too work for my husband ended up quitting.”
How can people take action against management for not paying them?
According to the United States Department of Labor, if someone is not paid for the work they have done, they can file a complaint with the department. The steps to do so are as follows:
- The complainant’s name
- The complainant’s address and phone number
- The name of the company where the complainant works or worked
- The location of the company (which may be different from where the complainant worked)
- Company’s phone number
- Name of the manager or owner (whom should the department ask to speak to?)
- Type of work the complainant performed
- How and when was the complainant paid (e.g., cash or check, every Friday)
The complainant can also provide additional information, such as copies of pay stubs, personal records of hours worked, or details on their employer’s pay practices, which can be helpful.
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